Instrument for inserting a spinal device

Abstract

In one aspect, a bone anchor assembly is provided having a bone anchor with a head, a resilient locking cap extending about a portion of the bone anchor head, and a cap drive member having a depending annular wall. In another form, a bone plate system is provided including a bone plate having an elongated throughbore and a resilient support member received therein. In another aspect, an insertion device is provided for manipulating and inserting a spinal device at or within a spinal joint. The insertion device is configured to actively pivot the implant about the implant gripping end of the device and to allow manipulation and release of the implant in any pivoted orientation from approximately 0 to 90 degrees.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tool for inserting an implant, comprising:
 a handle; 
 a shaft assembly having a longitudinal axis and being operably connected to the handle; 
 a pivotable head portion for gripping the implant and being pivotally connected to the shaft assembly; 
 a movable jaw member movably connected to the pivotable head portion for selectively gripping or releasing the implant; 
 a first actuator operably connected to the shaft assembly operable to selectively pivot the head portion to a plurality of different positions with respect to the shaft assembly; 
 a second actuator operably connected to the shaft assembly operable to selectively shift the movable jaw member relative to the pivotable head portion; 
 the shaft assembly and head portion being configured to allow the movable jaw member to be shifted independently of the pivotable head portion and the implant to be selectively released by the movable jaw member in each of the plurality of different positions of the pivotable head portion; 
 wherein the shaft assembly comprises a first shaft operably connected to the first actuator and the head portion for pivoting the head portion via the first actuator, and a second shaft operably connected to the second actuator and the movable jaw member for shifting the movable jaw member via the second actuator; 
 wherein the plurality of different positions of the pivotable head portion include an insertion configuration, wherein the head portion holds the implant in a first orientation relative to the shaft assembly, and a rotated configuration, wherein the head portion holds the implant in a second orientation relative to the shaft assembly different from the first orientation; 
 wherein the pivotable head portion is biased to return to the insertion configuration when the pivotable head portion is shifted by the first actuator to the rotated configuration; and 
 wherein the pivotable head portion further comprises a stationary jaw member opposite from the movable jaw member for gripping the implant therebetween. 
 
     
     
       2. The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member associated with the shaft assembly operable to bias the movable jaw member toward a gripping orientation for gripping the implant in each of the plurality of different positions of the pivotable head portion. 
     
     
       3. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft assembly is releasably connected to the handle to allow the shaft assembly to be removed from the handle portion for cleaning. 
     
     
       4. The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member associated with the shaft assembly operable to generate a biasing force to urge the pivotable head portion from the rotated configuration to the insertion configuration. 
     
     
       5. The tool of  claim 4 , wherein the biasing member is a spring operably connected to the shaft assembly. 
     
     
       6. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises a lever configured to shift between a plurality of different positions corresponding with the plurality of different positions of the pivotable head portion. 
     
     
       7. A tool for inserting an implant, comprising:
 a handle; 
 a shaft assembly having a longitudinal axis and being operably connected to the handle; 
 a pivotable head portion for gripping the implant and being pivotally connected to the shaft assembly; 
 a movable jaw member movably connected to the pivotable head portion for selectively gripping or releasing the implant; 
 a first actuator operably connected to the shaft assembly operable to selectively pivot the head portion to a plurality of different positions with respect to the shaft assembly; 
 a second actuator operably connected to the shaft assembly operable to selectively shift the movable jaw member relative to the pivotable head portion; 
 the shaft assembly and head portion being configured to allow the movable jaw member to be shifted independently of the pivotable head portion and the implant to be selectively released by the movable jaw member in each of the plurality of different positions of the pivotable head portion; 
 wherein the shaft assembly comprises a first shaft operably connected to the first actuator and the head portion for pivoting the head portion via the first actuator, and a second shaft operably connected to the second actuator and the movable jaw member for shifting the movable jaw member via the second actuator; 
 wherein the plurality of different positions of the pivotable head portion include an insertion configuration, wherein the head portion holds the implant in a first orientation relative to the shaft assembly, and a rotated configuration, wherein the head portion holds the implant in a second orientation relative to the shaft assembly different from the first orientation; 
 wherein the pivotable head portion further comprises a stationary jaw member opposite from the movable jaw member for gripping the implant therebetween; and 
 wherein the movable jaw member is shiftable between a gripping orientation for gripping the implant and a releasing orientation for releasing the implant, and the movable jaw member is biased to return to the gripping orientation from the releasing orientation. 
 
     
     
       8. The tool of  claim 7 , further comprising a biasing member associated with the shaft assembly operable to generate a biasing force to urge the pivotable head portion from the rotated configuration to the insertion configuration. 
     
     
       9. The tool of  claim 7 , wherein the shaft assembly comprising the first and second shafts defines a plurality of shafts including an outer shaft that extends about the other of the plurality of shafts. 
     
     
       10. The tool of  claim 7 , wherein the pivotable head portion is biased to return to the insertion configuration when the pivotable head portion is shifted by the first actuator to the rotated configuration.